Vote Online for Charity to WIN $10K to Transform Neighborhoods -Time is Running Out

Transform a Neighborhood is a non-profit start up designed to improve lives and neighborhoods. Many of our neighborhoods today are suffering as a result poverty and crime,and these problems are being exacerbated by the foreclosure crisis and houses sitting empty. In many of these neighborhoods, it is nearly impossible for those empty houses to be sold because lenders do not want to lend in these neighborhoods. Unless there is a collaboration of residents, governments, charitable organizations, and investors, this problems will only become worse. Transform a Neighborhood's mission is to facilitate that collaboration, as well, as take an active role in the neighborhoods by bringing volunteers and investors. You can visit the website where there are a couple of videos if you like http://www.transformaneighborhood.org/ .


Transform a Neighborhood has been entered in an idea contest to WIN $10K, which will provide start up capital for the organization. Your vote can potentially help many many lives and neighborhoods!

Yesterday I was reading Bruce Wilkinson's Prayer of Jabez. Bruce talks about the part of the prayer where Jabez pleas for more territory. This part of the prayer is where you ask God to enlarge your life so you can make a greater impact for Him. I love the next part as Bruce writes, "...we can see that there was more to his request than a simple desire for more real estate. He wanted more influence, more responsibility, and more opportunity to make a mark for God."

I have always prayed to be given the opportunity to positively impact lives and am thankful that I have been given the privilege to do that personally and through my profession as a coach and speaker. Transform a Neighborhood is bigger calling and it's definitely about more than a simple desire for more real estate. It's about answering the call to do something bigger and helping change lives in a big way.

Winning the Ideablob Contest would jump start this organization and mission, but there's a stiff competition to win the $10K. Today we are in 2nd place, we were in 2nd a few days ago and then fell to 3rd and then went back to 2nd. We only have until tomorrow, Thursday 8/21 to receive votes to help the idea to the finals. Every vote makes a big difference. This week has been so incredibly exciting as friends, family, colleagues and clients have not only shown their support by voting but many have also spread the word to their other contacts. It is fun watching the votes roll in over email as the days progress. Every time I hear the email sound, I say, "Hope it's a vote." Wow, there's one now -just as I write this.

I'd appreciate your vote and/or advice on Transform a Neighborhood, which you can give at
http://www.ideablob.com/ideas/2927-Transform-a-Neighborhood-TAN-

There's a quick email and user name sign up required but the company does not send you a bunch of junk email. However, if we make it as one of the sprint winners this week then we will make it into the finals. I believe that if we make it to the finals, you will get an email next week letting you know to vote for your favorite finalist.

Thanks to everyone for your support!

Atlanta expired listing - Are you making the most of the market?

I received an email update on the Atlanta market from Cindy Stuart and Associates. The number of expired listings is up 30% over last year! If part of your strategy is to work with expired listings, now is a great time to do that!

Read the full email below. The expired listings information is in bold.

You may have heard some bad things about the housing market lately. We've been getting a lot of questions about the Atlanta market, so we thought a report on what's really going on might help. Even if you're not moving within the Atlanta market, you may have someone with whom you would like to share this information. According to the First Multiple Listing Service, there were 4,454 closings for single family homes in January which was a 8.1% decline from January 2006. However, once lags are reported the decline will be much less. Condos and townhomes had 658 closings or an increase of 1.9% from January 2006.

According to FMLS, January's decline is an improvement from December's 10.4% decline with no lags.

The average sale price in January for single family housing was $254,388. This was an increase of 5.6% from January 2006 and the largest year-to-year period increase since December 2005.

The number of expired listings in January for all single family homes was 5,505. This is up 30% from January 2006. However, FMLS notes that the increase is small compared to withdrawn listings --2,246 withdrawn or an increase of 65% over January 2006.
The overall supply of new construction single family homes increased 57.9% from 1/31/06-1/31/07. Overall supply of resale single family homes increased 22.8% from January 06 to January 07.

Average days on market from January, as reported by FMLS, was 90.6 for all single family. This is the second consecutive period above 90 days and the first time this has happened since 1998. The average time on market for homes listed by Stewart & Associates is 68.

We hope this information finds you well and provides valuable information about the Atlanta market. If you have additional question please don't hesitate to call or e-mail us. As always, your business is greatly appreciated. If you know of anyone making a move, please allow us the opportunity to help them.

Thanks again and MAKE it a great day.

Lisa Brownlow
Inside Sales / Marketing Director
Stewart & Associates
678-597-5868
cindy.stewart@kw.com